Category: Dies R Us

Yes, I’m still making Christmas Cards! If I don’t get started in September, I don’t have enough for what I like to send out. Since my friends know I make greeting cards, they expect a handmade card. Once the season is here there is too much to do to be in the craft room. So here’s how I made this card.

Once you’ve cut, colored and assembled all the little elements for the door scene it’s time to assemble the card. Score a pc. of 8.5 x 11″ red cardstock at 5.5 “, fold over for a book fold and trim to 5.5 ‘ x 7”.

Cut a white rectangle from white cardstock that measures 5.25″ x 6.75″ and adhere to the red base. Cut a pc. of “brick” designer paper that measures 5″ x 6.5″ and adhere to the white layer.

Now add all your assembled elements as shown. Here’s another look:

That’s it!

Thank for taking the time to look at this project. I love to get comments and read every one!

Cut the dies in the “small Poinsettia” to make 3 flowers. I cut the base pc. 3 times, and all the leaf pcs. 9 times from white cardstock and 4 times from green cardstock. Here is Susan Tierney Cockburn’s :Poinsettia Assembly Video I cut, shaped and assembled all 3 poinsettia on their base pc., to place into the end arrangement when I assembled the finished card.

Next cut two of the candle die from white cardstock but cut the “candle drip” pc. from white cardstock that has been adhered to Double Sided Adhesive. Remove the protective back from the drip pcs. and sprinkle 640 – Warm Diamond Microfine Glitter over the sticky side and polish in with your finger. Remember to apply the double sided adhesive to the right side of the cardstock and the die pc. blade down over the adhesive. Cut two flame pcs. from white cardstock and color with Copic Markers. Cut the pine 4 or 5 times from green cardstock.

I bought this Christmas cardstock pack yrs. ago from Joanne’s Craft Store and it’s probably no longer available, but any holiday paper/cardstock would be great. I loved this one because the ornaments all have subtle red glitter areas on them, which made this glitter drip from the candles really work or make sense.

The cardstock I chose for the base card is one from Elizabeth Craft Designs called Soft Finish Cardstock in “Dove Gray” because in the close up above, you can see it is pretty much an exact match to the gray in the designer paper, and, I love that is white on the other side which makes a blank slate for stamping a sentiment or anything on the inside. It is 12 x 12″ 100lb. paper which makes a great base card weight.

The finished card measures 5.5 x 7″ so create a base card by scoring either a 8.5 x 11″ at 5.5″ on the long side or as I did in this case, score a 12 x 12″ at 6″. Either way, fold over for a book fold card and trim to the finished size. Cut, from a holiday print cardstock, a mat that measures 5.25 x 6.75″ and adhere to the front of the base card.

Now with a nested oval set from Elizabeth Craft Designs:1113 – Stitched Ovals take the second and the third largest die and tape them nested together.

As in the photo above place the taped together ovals on a pc. of the same cardstock used for the base and run through your die cutting machine. Now separate the ovals and using the smaller of the two, cut an oval from silver mirror cardstock.

Using Elizabeth Craft Designs 1467 – Words 3 – Happy Holidays cut two of each word from the same cardstock you choose for the base card and adhere the two layers together.

Now the fun. Assemble the card by first centering the oval frame you cut by using 2 dies and put the silver mirror stock oval inside the oval frame and place the candles as shown. Once you like where it is, then place the 3 poinsettias as shown. Glue everything down including the pine boughs, green leaves and the double layer sentiment. Here’s another quick look at the card:

This one is the one to try if you’re new to this whole paper crafting addiction that has taken over many social media sites. It’s hard for me to imagine that there are many families that don’t expect a handmade card these days! LOL Anyway,…..this one is easy, goes together quickly and packs all the “wow” factor for the receiver. Here’s how I made it:

Step 1: Using: 1067 – Poinsettia, cut one silhouette pc. from red cardstock and a second from red cardstock that you have adhered to double sided adhesive before cutting the pc. Note: Tape the die to the adhesive side with blades down. (Note: You may need to run through your machine twice, so don’t remove from the die until you’ve tested if it was a uniform cut.) Cut one of the silhouette pc. from green cardstock. I Cut the “swirly overlay pc. and the smaller petal pc. from red cardstock. Cut the small “center pc.” from white cardstock and color the outline pattern yellow and the inside little circles green.

Using a flower shaping tool kit, vein the plain red large petal pc. and the green one, you will use for leaves. Optional: lightly go over the leaves pc. after veining with a darker ink and the veins will be more visible. Next, remove the protective layer from the “double sided adhesive red layer and sprinkle with: 614 – True Red Silk Microfine Glitter. Shake off excess glitter and rub with finger to polish the glitter side. Assemble the poinsettia by adhering the swirly red layer to the glittered petal layer. Then adhere this to the plain but veined red petal layer offsetting the petals. Then add the smaller red petal layer and last the pollen yellow/green layer.

Step 2: Using Elizabeth Craft Designs: 758 – Berry Branch Cut the die twice with white cardstock and color the branch brown and the berries red. Add a drop of Crystal Lacquer to each of the berries. Let dry. It may take an hour or more.

Step 3: Cut a rectangle from cream cardstock that measures 4.25 x 6″ and run through an embossing folder from Elizabeth Craft Designs: Pinecones I colored the raised pinecones with a eye shadow applicator and Burnt Umber PanPastel. I love coloring embossed panels with PanPastels. If you are not familiar with this medium, they are highly saturated compressed powder colors. Every color can be blended and, as in this case, if some of the (brown) color I used, fell where I didn’t want it, you can erase it. Once you’re happy, you spray very lightly once with cheap hair spray and it’s set. Trim to 4 x 5.5″

Step 4: Cut two rectangle mats: One light brown that measures 4.25 x 5.75″ the second one in red that measures 4.5 x 6″. Adhere the light brown one over the red one centered with a 1/8″ border on all sides. Adhere the embossed layer to the red one.

Step 5: Score a 8.5 x 11″ cream cardstock at 5.5″ on the long side. Fold over for a tent fold and trim to 5.5 x 7″. Adhere the step 4 sandwich to the front of this card base.

Step 6: Using: Elizabeth Craft Designs 944 – Merry Christmas cut from red cardstock that you use the same technique for the red glittered petal layer. Remember when you use this technique, tape the die, blade side down on the protective double sided adhesive side. Run through the die cutting machine twice to cut through all the layers.

Step 7: Adhere the poinsettia and berry branches, as well as the glittered “Merry Christmas sentiment as shown. Here’s another look:

Yep, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas Cards. There is so much extra stuff you need to schedule in during the holidays that I like to get an early start on my Christmas cards. My family and friends expect to get a handmade card since they know that’s what I do! In fact sometimes I can see they’re disappointed if it’s not a pop up card!

I loved this 1410 – Snow Globe die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs when it premiered last year. But unfortunately, it was not in my budget. But this year I had to have it!

So let’s make this card! Here’s the steps:

Step 1: Cut out all the pieces in the die set from white cardstock and color as you like. I used Copic Markers to color the house and church and then adhered them to yellow pc. of cardstock so they looked like the lights were on. I also colored the bottom of the trees also with a green Copic. On the background circle I colored the sky with Pan Pastels. I added Wink of Stella in clear to give the tiny snowflakes a little glitter.

Step 2: As you can see in the photo of the die set there are several circle dies where you can make the scene have more of a border but I wanted to put the house and church in my little scene so I didn’t use all of those. I cut the main die pc. twice from white cardstock and used a circle die from another nested circles set by Sizzix that actually came with my Sizzix Big Shot during a promotion for the Big Shot Plus I purchased. I used the fourth largest in this set inside the second white globe to created this border and cut off the stand part. I used the 3rd largest to cut out a transparency circle to imitate glass but you could also just cut the transparency with the globe pc and cut off the stand.

Step 3: Cut another globe out of brown cardstock to make the stand look like it’s wood. I decided to cut the “Noel” pc. from silver mirror cardstock.

Step 5: Assemble the globe by adhering the white globe that you colored a sky to the brown one. Now, create your little scene by adding the white pc. that is the snowy hill. Add the house, church and trees as you like. Then glue the transparency pc. next and the white circle frame. Add the silver “Noel” pc. to the stand.

Step 6: Create a base card by scoring an 8.5 x 11″ pc. of white cardstock. Fold over and trim to a 5.5″ square.

Step 7: I used a designer paper by Moda Scrap for Elizabeth Craft Designs called Thinking about Polinesia. Cut this pc. into a 5″ square and adhere to the base.

Step 8: Adhere the finished Globe to the front of the card and add the “Merry Christmas” sentiment across the top.

That’s it!

Thank you so very much for taking the time to take a look. I appreciate comments. I love to here what you think and I read everyone of them!

his is a die set from Karen Burniston and is fast becoming my favorite! Why, because it can be any theme you can imagine! Plus. It’s an interactive card that has a surprise that pops up when the receiver opens it.

There is an assembly video by Karen. If you want to buy this set for yourself then I really recommend that you watch the video at least the first time you use it. The mechanism that makes the card interactive can be tricky and you’ll never figure it out by yourself. Here’s the link: 1042 – Spinner Square Pop Up

I adore the paper packs from Moda Scrap called “Thinking About Polinesia” for ElizabethCraft Designs. I am also crazy for polka dots!

I used this adorable stamp set from Lawn Fawn called On The Mend . I stamped the Band Aid, Soup bowl/spoon and Turtle on white cardstock. I colored them and fussy cut. The Tissue Box and little bug, and sentiment “sorry you caught a bug” and “feel better” was also from the same set.

I cut the 2nd to the largest for the flower pot on the front and the largest for the pot inside.

The Daisies are from a die set from DoCrafts called “Glorious Gerbera” I cut the daisy on the right middle which is the second to the smallest twice for each daisy and the yellow center of the daisy from the little circle once for each daisy.

The leaves are from a die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs called 901 – Daisy:

Well, that’s it. Now you have all the info about the products used in this project and I hope you’ll make you’re own version of this really fun interactive card.

Thank you so much for taking some time to take a look. Please leave a comment as I just love to read them.

I love to find either new or different ways to use my die sets. Let’s face it, they’re an investment. So our intention is that we’ll use it often. However, we live in the real world that often distracts us of our original intention. This die set was one of those purchases for me. I got them on sale or I probably wouldn’t have bought them. That would have been my loss! I just didn’t see how much I would actually use it. I stopped making a big deal out of wrapping presents when the grands were little because they only care what’s inside at that age. Now, they prefer gift cards or cash. Who doesn’t?

Here’s a photo of the “Tag” die used last Christmas as tags. I decorated an envelope and adhered it to the back for the $ or card.

For this project I wanted to show you how to use this versatile die set to also create a book fold card.

Step 1: Make the base card by scoring a pc. of 8.5″ x 11″ at 4.25″ on the 8.5″. Fold over for a book fold that is 4.25″ x 11″. Using the die pc. that cuts the top and an inch down the sides and tape it to the closed base as below. Notice that I’ve positioned the die to hang over the fold so that it doesn’t cut on that side.:

In the photo below, I flipped this step over so you can see the fold is taped right next to the blade but not over it.

The next photo is the result of this run through the cutting machine:

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Step 2. Using the die in the photo below from this set, position the die on the front of the base card. Line up the hole in the die with the one in the front of the base. Run through a die cutting machine. Using these same two die pieces, cut one of the top edge pc. and two of the leafy pc. with Olive green cardstock but trim them where the die ends. Now adhere the leafy one to the inside matching all the leaves (start w/the tag hole) and the plain edger one to the other side. The second green leafy one I used on the back of the card.

This set comes with sooo many little dies to decorate and make edge cuts, that can be used with a lot of other projects. I love those corner dies:

Step 3: I used the “loopy or scallop” edger for both the front and inside of the card. I also used all 3 of the corner dies. I wanted to use as many of the dies in this set as I could so you could see how many projects you could use these little décor pcs:

Step 4: I love Sunflowers and Susan Tierney Cockburn for Elizabeth Craft Designs created a die set that is my favorite 3D Sunflower to use on projects. I’ve used it so many times and it’s called: 999 – Garden Notes – Sunflower

Cut enough pieces to make 2 sunflowers. I recommend cut at least two of the petal die for a full flower, Here’s the link to Susan’s assembly video: Sunflower Video

After watching the video, start to assemble the sunflower directly to the card as shown.

Cut it out twice, once in yellow and once in green. Glue the yellow on top of the green, offsetting it then adhere to the card as shown. Tie some coordinating ribbon through both tag holes.

Step 6 is optional. I sometimes like to decorate the backs of the cards I make. This one needed it because I used a cardstock for the base that is only 65lb. Didn’t realize I had until I was too far into it. That weight would not have been a problem on a smaller card. But this card is 8.5″ long! So here’s a look at the back:

That’s it! I hope this project inspired you to re-think your tag dies. This die set is a fantastic value! I have another project tomorrow using a different tag die set. I hope you come back tomarrow for Chapter 2: Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

Good Morning DiesRUs fans as well as Karen Burniston fans! My sweet daughter gave me a gift certificate for Mother’s Day and Karen’s: 1023 – Tag Book was one of the new toys I chose with her gift!

This is my first “tag book” using Karen’s die set for this so fun and versatile set! However, this is not the first time I made a “tag book”. A couple of yrs. or more ago Karen came up with a way to make this very tag book but you needed several of her die sets and then also need to manually make a couple of other elements and then find other dies from other sets to decorate it! Whew! However, I soooo loved the results that all those steps made, so I gave it a try but I never made another one:

When this publishes, I’m going to ask Karen if she remembers this. I can tell you this set makes it a lot easier to make such a fun card to receive. You can’t think of an occasion that this die set couldn’t be used for and it comes with 17 dies! I made today’s project for my grand daughter’s birthday.

The Steps:

Step 1: Once you decide what theme you want this card to have then I suggest that you watch the assembly video so you can choose which paper to use when you start cutting. Remember, there are 17 dies! And also, at the end of the video she will show what the designers made with this set. Here’s the link: Karen’s Tag Book Assembly

Step 2: I cut everything accept the “Shells and other deco pcs.” twice because I wasn’t sure what I wanted in which of the coordinated designer cardstock. I was working with a paper pack from Graphic 45 called “By the Sea” Collection.

I cut 3 of the wavy chain ones and sort of weaved them in and over the little frames on the tags:

Step 4: Using Elizabeth Craft Designs – 1147 Shells Small

The small shells are not available right now at DiesRUs but the “Large Shells” are and would also fit this die set. 1146 – Shells Large

The little Pail and Shovel was in my stash from an earlier Karen Burniston Pop Up set.

Step 5: The front of my card was made by fussy cutting a couple of elements from the same Graphic 45 paper pack:

Here’s another look at the front:

Here’s a closer look at the inside:

That’s it!

Thank you so much for taking a look and I hope you’ll try your own version of this adorable die set and will come back to the: DiesRUs Inspriration Blog every day for more fun inspiration from the team and join the challenge at: DiesRUs Challenge Blog

I spent the weekend potting up some flowers for my backyard patio. The birds were singing their hearts out! It reminded me of two adorable die sets from Joset for ElizabethCraft Designs: The first one is: 1250 – Birdhouse

This set is so cute and comes with a pc. that makes snow for on top of the roof. I cut the roof and stand from brown cardstock, the house from blue, and the “lines” pc., and extra “heart” pc. twice, from white. Color one of the white hearts yellow with Copic Y08.

I cut all the pcs. in this set from white cardstock and colored them with PanPastels Burnt Umber and colored the tiny eye circles with Black Copic Marker. The birds feet were also colored with Copic Y08 Put a foam dot behind the birds head centered over the eye holes but don’t remove the protective paper back yet. The birds bundled up for winter with the snow on the roof of the birdhouse makes an adorable winter card.

The next step is to color a back ground on the white oval. Using Elizabeth Craft Designs stencil called “Clouds and Grass“, I stenciled Clouds using PanPastel’s Ultra Marine Blue and Dairylide Yellow. I placed the assembled birds where they would be glued down to know where to stop the clouds and stencil the grass.

I made a stencil for the grass that matched the grass dies I used. I adhered double sided adhesive to cardstock and cut out this die: Elizabeth Craft Designs 914 – Outdoor Edges – 3 die set This is a way to get more from your dies. As you can see from the picture below, you use the negative pc. for the stencil.

Assemble the birdhouse but don’t insert the yellow heart yet. Put a little pc. of paper behind the heart space. Put a drop of glue into the heart space and then the yellow heart. Put a large foam dot behind the house. Color the tiny eyes with Black Copic Marker. Color the grass pcs. with green Copic Marker.

The picture above shows the bottom third of the white oval where I first stenciled the grass and then added PanPastel Burnt Umber here and there amongst the grass. The two little grass pcs. are from a die set that has just recently been discontinued. The DiesRUs Store carries a lot of little grass die choices for this step.

The finished card measures 5.5 x 7″. Make a base card by scoring a piece of 8.5 x 11″ pc. of white cardstock at 5.5″. Fold at the score line for a book fold card. Cut a background mat from blue gingham cardstock that measures 5.25 x 6.75″ and adhere to the front of the white base card.

Assemble the Oval focal point. Adhere the birdhouse to the stenciled white oval but leave the one slanted brace on the right side loose to slip a pc. of grass under it then glue down. The house it’s self will be adhered by now removing the back of the foam dot. Now adhere this completed oval to the blue scalloped one and adhere this stack to the front of the card as pictured. Glue the little blue corner pcs. to the corners of the gingham mat. I added a “Hello” sentiment I had in my stash but this project could be for almost any occasion. The little hearts are from the birdhouse die set.

That’s It

Thanks for taking a look at the tutorial and don’t forget to stop by daily at the DiesRUs Inspiration Blog. We love to see what YOU make for the challenge blog!